Legislature(2011 - 2012)CAPITOL 120
02/03/2011 05:00 PM House FISHERIES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Overview(s): Department of Fish and Game (adf&g) - Division of Sport Fish | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES
February 3, 2011
5:02 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Steve Thompson, Chair
Representative Alan Austerman
Representative Bob Herron
Representative Scott Kawasaki
Representative Bob Miller
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Craig Johnson, Vice Chair
Representative Lance Pruitt
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
OVERVIEW(S): DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME (ADF&G) - DIVISION OF
SPORT FISH
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
CHARLES MR. SWANTON, Director
Division of Sport Fish
Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided an overview of the Division of
Sport Fish, for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G).
ACTION NARRATIVE
5:02:18 PM
CHAIR STEVE THOMPSON called the House Special Committee on
Fisheries meeting to order at 5:02 p.m. Present at the call to
order were Representatives Thompson, Austerman, Herron,
Kawasaki, and Miller.
^OVERVIEW(S): DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME (ADF&G) - DIVISION OF
SPORT FISH
OVERVIEW(S): DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME (ADF&G) - DIVISION OF
SPORT FISH
5:03:09 PM
CHAIR THOMPSON announced that the only order of business would
be an overview from the Division of Sport Fish of the Alaska
Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G).
5:03:24 PM
CHARLES SWANTON, Director, Division of Sport Fish, Alaska
Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), began the division overview
by paraphrasing from the committee handout entitled "Alaska
Department of Fish and Game Division of Sport Fish FY12 Division
Overview," which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
The mission of the Division of Sport Fish is to
protect and improve the state's recreational fisheries
resources. Services provided are founded on this
mission, and addressed in the following seven core
services:
Fishery Management: The division ensures the
sustained use of Alaska's recreational fisheries while
optimizing social and economic benefits.
Fishery Research: The division promotes excellence in
fisheries research.
Fisheries Enhancement: The division diversifies
recreational fishing opportunities via supplemental
production of hatchery-reared fish.
Angler Access: The division protects and improves
public access, motorized and otherwise, to
recreational fisheries resources.
Information and Education Services: The division
informs and educates the public about recreational
fishing with an emphasis on exceptional customer
service.
Fish Habitat: The division conserves habitat to
sustain recreational fisheries resources.
Workforce Support: The division provides exceptional
support to our workforce to attain the division's
vision and goals.
The division measures success in meeting its mission
by assessing the outcome of "sustain recreational
fishing opportunities while optimizing social and
economic benefits" using the following targets:
Target 1: Sell 450,000 sport fishing licenses
annually.
Target 2: Maintain 2.5 million angler days of
recreational fishing effort annually.
Target 3: Maintain a positive trend in sport fishing
trip-related expenditures.
Target 4: Maintain at least 75 percent of anglers
satisfied with their sport fishing experience.
Challenges that currently impact the division's
ability to achieve its mission include:
Maintaining existing hatchery production while
constructing new hatchery facilities, and identifying
and securing hatchery operational funds;
Sustaining wild fish stocks by employing stock
assessment research and managing sport fishery
harvests according to the Sustainable Salmon Fisheries
Management Policy (5 AAC 39.222; Salmon Escapement
Goal Policy (5 AAC 39.223); and the Policy For the
Management of Sustainable Wild Trout Fisheries (5 AAC
75.222);
Continuing to refine and improve accuracy of Fish and
Game and Dingell-Johnson fund projections while
balancing increased project and operational costs;
Improving resident angler satisfaction, diversity of
fishing opportunities and modernize harvest data
collection methods;
Ensuring public access and minimizing impacts to
recreational users as lands are conveyed or restricted
by federal subsistence regulations; and
Improving current and/or developing new approaches to
better inform and educate the public about sport
fishing opportunities and regulations, and division
programs and activities related to sport fishing.
The total FY12 Governor's Request for the division's
RDU is $48,389,500, representing a decrease from FY11
Management Plan of ($858,500).
The division has one component, Sport Fisheries. The
division employs 231 permanent full time positions and
204 permanent part time positions.
The division maintains a headquarters office in
Juneau; regional offices in Anchorage, Douglas, and
Fairbanks; and 22 management area offices, including
Sitka, Ketchikan, Yakutat, Haines, Craig/Klawock,
Petersburg, Palmer, Soldotna, Homer, Kodiak,
Dillingham, Cordova, King Salmon, Seward, Bethel,
Delta Junction, Tok, Nome, and Glennallen.
5:07:45 PM
MR. SWANTON continued to the third page of the handout to
explain the pie chart indicating the funding sources. The
division, as a results delivery unit (RDU), has nine sources of
funding. He pointed out the two primarily funding sources as:
40 percent federal government garnered from the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service fish excise tax; and 28 percent state fish and
game fund, generated from license sales. A smattering of other
sources includes 12 percent from the general fund.
Additionally, the FY12 Capital Budget includes a line dedicated
to Sport Fish Recreational Boating Access, for roughly $3
million; $2,250,000 federal receipts and $750,000 fish and game
funds. He explained this is necessary because, as part of the
federal program for the pass through funding, the division is
mandated to spend 15 percent of federal receipts on boater
access projects such as boat ramps, restrooms, parking lots, and
related services.
5:09:15 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MILLER requested a definition that distinguishes
the Division of Sport Fish from the other departmental
divisions.
MR. SWANTON responded that recreational sport fishing is
separated from other pursuits by the act of being recreational.
It could be for consumptive use or not, but essentially
encompasses the activity pursued by the purchaser of a license;
and for which the generated revenues are used to conserve and
manage the resource. The specific license is the distinguishing
factor; however, youth under the age of 16 and elders over the
age of 60 do not require sport fishing licenses.
REPRESENTATIVE AUSTERMAN offered that there are some overlapping
areas such as subsistence and personal use fisheries that could
cause some confusion. He opined that it may be in the eye of
the beholder in some situations, and offered some examples of
areas that he believes to be negotiable. Additionally, a
charter boat operator considers the activity to be a sport
however, he argued, it could be considered to be a commercial
business. Further, he provided a brief historical overview of
the fifty years of evolution of the department since statehood.
CHAIR THOMPSON noted that the division is charged with the
conservation of fish habitat, and asked what action is taken
against invasive weeds.
MR. SWANTON responded that invasive weed situations are a new
occurrence in the state. The divisions of Sport Fish and
Habitat have involved staff to address the concern, and he
offered to provide further information to the committee.
5:19:36 PM
CHAIR THOMPSON asked about the delay in the development of a
fish hatchery in the Fairbanks area.
MR. SWANTON indicated that design issues have been a holdup on
the project. It is being worked through, and rainbow trout eggs
should be delivered sometime in the coming spring. The project
is one year behind schedule. To a follow up question, he said
that the design build agreement calls for a replacement of the
filtration system, which is not working to specifications.
5:22:56 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MILLER inquired what species will be developed in
the hatchery, once it is on-line, and the destination of the
stocks.
MR. SWANTON indicated that the primary species will be rainbow
trout, and in the future Arctic char, Arctic grayling, lake
trout, King salmon, and coho salmon. The fish will all be
released in fresh water locations. The variety of species will
allow a diversity of opportunities for stock success when they
are released. Additionally, seasonal fishing will be enhanced
including ice fishing; a popular sport in areas such as Birch
Lake [approximately 65 miles southeast of Fairbanks].
CHAIR THOMPSON asked why King salmon were not captured from the
Chena River and reared in the hatchery for re-release to
supplement the runs via the Chena, through the Tanana, and into
the Yukon rivers.
MR. SWANTON responded that the facility was built for
recreational angling enhancement. The department has a policy
for stocking of hatchery reared fish "over the top" of wild
stocks. He explained naturalized exploitation rates and the
effects of that practice on wild versus enhanced stock.
Management of combined natural and enhanced stocks is difficult
and complex. Additionally, the competition of the fish to
survive in the wild is an issue.
5:28:55 PM
REPRESENTATIVE AUSTERMAN asked whether the division assumes the
management of halibut that are inside the three mile shore
limit, and pointed out that the licensing and regulation is held
by the department.
MR. SWANTON answered that halibut are governed under an
international treaty, and bag limits are set in concert with the
state board of fisheries.
REPRESENTATIVE AUSTERMAN explained his understanding that the
International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) sets the quota
for the commercial and sport catch of halibut in the Pacific
coastal region. The biomass fluctuates and affects both
fisheries dramatically. He reported that recently the North
Pacific Council took action to restrict halibut charter fishing
to permitted captains only. He cautioned that this may produce
a heated response from charter fishermen.
MR. SWANTON agreed.
5:34:11 PM
CHAIR THOMPSON referred to the targets listed on page one of the
handout, and asked for a breakout of Target 2, and how many of
the 2.5 million angler days represent resident versus non-
resident.
MR. SWANTON said the information will be provided to the
committee.
5:35:22 PM
CHAIR THOMPSON, referring to the same page, read "[sustain
recreational fishing opportunities while] optimizing social and
economic benefits" and asked for examples of the economic
benefits.
MR. SWANTON pointed out that the data in use is from 2007, which
reported the economic activity generated by the sport fishing
industry to be estimated at $1.4 billion statewide. The figure
can be expected to fluctuate year to year, as well as by region.
He opined that a decrease might be anticipated due to the recent
halibut restrictions. Fishermen specifically targeting halibut
may choose to cancel planned trips to Alaska and all sectors of
the economy are affected; licensing, housing, tax receipts, food
sales.
5:37:31 PM
CHAIR THOMPSON returned to page 2 of the handout addressing the
listed challenge of modernization of the harvest data collection
methods, and asked what steps the division is taking in this
area.
MR. SWANTON explained that the log book program for fresh and
saltwater efforts is a primary example. The log book pages have
been kept by hand in the past, containing data that was
considered questionable. The division has begun to implement a
log sheet that can be scanned and which provides data
availability within a week of receipt. During the last ten
years, anglers have received a 46 page survey, which has now
been downsized to about half the length. Additionally, point of
sale license information is being explored, which would also
allow personal use fishermen to record their data.
5:42:27 PM
REPRESENTATIVE AUSTERMAN noted the number of division employees
and asked whether the numbers provided reflect FY11 or FY12
statistics.
MR. SWANTON answered that the numbers would be the same, varying
by no more than one or two.
5:42:53 PM
REPRESENTATIVE AUSTERMAN raised an issued from the Mat-Su valley
and the impact that the Northern Pike have had on the silver
salmon stocks. He asked if the division is addressing this
concern.
MR. SWANTON explained that pike in the Susitna Valley have been
reported as a problem, in certain drainages, and the division
has instituted sampling techniques to research the situation;
eradication will not occur, but reduction of pike populations
may. The division is going at the problem whole heartedly, he
said.
5:45:55 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MILLER requested information regarding targeted
species, by region.
MR. SWANTON will provide the specific information.
5:47:19 PM
CHAIR THOMPSON asked what the state is doing to ensuring public
access for the personal use fisheries in the Copper River area,
and whether there is a pending land purchase, or swap, to
alleviate the conflict.
MR. SWANTON explained that the area of Chitna presents a unique
situation due to the land ownership and the availability of safe
access sites. He stated that he is not aware of a land swap
possibility, however, that would improve access. Boat launching
is also very restrictive. The division would only have
authority to expend funds, which is limited regarding the
personal use fishery.
CHAIR THOMPSON noted that dip netting areas on the Kenai are
receiving additional pressure due to people traveling from the
Chitna region.
5:51:04 PM
REPRESENTATIVE AUSTERMAN commented that a historical view of the
fishery developments in the state would be helpful to the
committee, by explaining the dynamics of the various fisheries
and the demands on the individual stocks.
5:53:03 PM
CHAIR THOMPSON thanked the presenter and announced the next
meeting.
5:53:15 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Fisheries meeting was adjourned at 5:54
p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Sport_Fish_Division_Overview_Handout[1].pdf |
HFSH 2/3/2011 5:00:00 PM |